CWTON Penalties 2026: Up to PLN 50,000 Fine for No Registration

Penalties for Not Registering With CWTON - What the Draft Law Provides and What You Actually Risk Today

Key takeaways (status: July 2026)

• Fines of up to 50,000 PLN for no registration and up to 10,000 PLN for false data are ONLY provisions of a draft law - not binding regulations
• The CWTON system has not been launched, so registration is physically impossible - and no one can fine you for not having a number
• Airbnb and Booking are NOT removing Polish listings without a number - the number field is optional, because there is no register to verify against
• The realistic launch date is October 15, 2026 (confirmed by Deputy Minister Ireneusz Raś), and host registration may not open until 2027
• What you actually risk TODAY: consequences of not reporting your property to the municipal register and of missing smoke detectors, mandatory from June 30, 2026

Alarming headlines have been circulating for months: "50,000 PLN fine for no CWTON registration!", "Platforms are removing listings from May 20!". The problem: the first claim describes a draft law, and the second is simply false. In this article, we separate what the draft Polish law PROVIDES from what hosts actually risk today - in July 2026. Spoiler: nothing currently threatens you for lacking a CWTON number, because the system doesn't exist. But that doesn't mean you have no obligations at all.

The Facts: No Law, No System, No Penalties

Let's get the facts straight. EU Regulation 2024/1028 (adopted April 11, 2024, applicable from May 20, 2026) concerns the collection and sharing of data between platforms and a national single digital entry point. By itself, it imposes no registration obligation on Polish hosts and provides no penalties - that is the job of the Polish implementing law.

And the Polish implementing law has not been passed. Two proposals are in the works: the government draft UC135 (an amendment to the Act on Hotel Services, Ministry of Sport and Tourism) and a parliamentary draft (print no. 2353). The CWTON system - the Central Register of Tourist Accommodation Facilities - has not been launched. Registration is physically impossible. Deputy Minister Ireneusz Raś confirmed on April 15, 2026 that the transition period runs until October 15, 2026, and some sources indicate host registration may only realistically start in the first quarter of 2027.

The consequence is simple: there is currently no penalty for lacking a CWTON number, because there is no obligation that could be breached.

Are Platforms Removing Listings Without a Number? No

This is the most frequently repeated myth. Airbnb and Booking.com are not removing Polish listings without a registration number. The number field on platform forms is optional, because there is no register against which platforms could verify the data. The verification obligation will only take effect once a working national register exists - and for now it doesn't. Your listings remain active and are not at risk.

What Penalties Does the DRAFT Law Provide?

It's worth knowing the draft provisions so you're prepared for the moment the law is passed. To be clear: everything below is a draft that may still change during parliamentary work.

Up to 50,000 PLN for No Registration (draft)

The draft provides for an administrative fine of up to 50,000 PLN for operating a short-term rental without an entry in the register. According to the draft, the fine would apply to each property separately and be scaled to the circumstances - 50,000 PLN is the upper limit.

Up to 10,000 PLN for False Data (draft)

The second draft penalty concerns providing untrue data at registration or failing to update it after changes - e.g., understating the number of sleeping places, giving a wrong address, or declaring compliance with safety requirements the property doesn't meet.

Who Would Carry Out Inspections? Not Yet Decided

The division of enforcement powers (municipalities, inspection bodies, the minister responsible for tourism) is one of the things the final version of the law will settle. Today it is impossible to say who would impose fines and under what procedure - any article describing a "CWTON inspection procedure" as if it were binding law is getting ahead of the facts.

What Do Hosts Actually Risk TODAY (July 2026)?

While there are no "CWTON penalties", two obligations already exist - and those are the ones to focus on.

1. Reporting the Property to the Municipal Register

The only register that actually operates today is the municipal register of other facilities providing hotel services (Articles 38-39 of the Polish Act on Hotel Services). This obligation has existed for years and also covers apartments rented short-term. You file the report with the municipal office where the property is located - it's a simple form, usually free or with a symbolic fee. Providing hotel services without this report is an offence punishable by a fine.

2. Smoke Detectors Mandatory From June 30, 2026

This is the most important hard requirement already in force. Under the Regulation of the Minister of Interior and Administration of November 21, 2024, from June 30, 2026 smoke detectors are mandatory in existing premises where hotel services are provided - including short-term rentals. Where fuel combustion occurs (gas boiler, fireplace, stove), a carbon monoxide detector is additionally required. Sanctions for breaching fire safety regulations can reach around 30,000 PLN.

3. Taxes - Platform Data Already Flows to the Tax Authorities

Independently of CWTON, booking platforms report host data to the Polish National Revenue Administration under the EU DAC7 directive. If you don't declare your rental income, the tax office can learn about it without any on-site inspection. Tax arrears mean interest and fiscal-penal liability - and those penalties are real, not drafted.

Indirect Consequences Worth Remembering

• Insurance - many policies require the activity to be conducted lawfully. Missing the municipal report or smoke detectors can be grounds for refusing a payout after damage occurs
• Civil liability - if a guest suffers harm (e.g., carbon monoxide poisoning) and the property lacked mandatory safety equipment, your liability will be much broader
• Chaos when CWTON launches - hosts with their documentation in order will sail through registration; the rest will be catching up under deadline pressure

Penalties in a European Context

For comparison - sanctions in countries that have already implemented registration systems:

• France: fines up to 50,000 EUR for no registration, 12,500 EUR for illegal listings. Paris regularly imposes and effectively collects fines
• Spain: Barcelona imposes fines up to 600,000 EUR for illegal tourist properties and actively hunts for them
• Netherlands: Amsterdam - fines from 6,000 to 20,500 EUR for no registration or exceeding the night limit
• Germany: Berlin - fines up to 500,000 EUR for illegally converting an apartment to short-term rental

The fines in the Polish draft (up to 50,000 PLN, about 11,500 EUR) would be relatively mild by comparison. But still an amount worth taking seriously - once the law enters into force.

How to Prepare - Step by Step

1. Report your property to the municipal register (Articles 38-39 of the Act on Hotel Services) - this obligation exists today
2. Install smoke detectors (and a CO detector if fuel combustion occurs in the premises) - mandatory from June 30, 2026
3. Get your taxes in order - platforms report your income to the tax authorities under DAC7
4. Prepare documentation - house rules, evacuation instructions, GDPR notice. The draft law provides for such requirements, and some are simply good practice
5. Sort out your legal title to the property - future registration will require proving your right to use the property
6. Follow the legislation - rely on Ministry of Sport and Tourism announcements, not headlines

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I be fined today for not having a CWTON number?

No. The Polish implementing law has not been passed and the CWTON system does not exist - so there is no registration obligation and no legal basis for fines. The fines of up to 50,000 PLN and up to 10,000 PLN are draft provisions that will only apply after the law is passed and transition periods expire.

Will Airbnb or Booking remove my listing without a number?

No. Platforms are not removing Polish listings without a registration number, because there is no register to verify data against. The number field is optional. This will only change once the CWTON system is launched.

Who will impose fines once the law is in force?

That is not yet known - the division of enforcement powers will be settled by the final version of the law, which is still being drafted. Any "CWTON inspection procedures" circulating online describe, at best, working draft provisions.

What do I actually risk today as a host?

Two things: consequences of not reporting your property to the municipal register (an obligation under Articles 38-39 of the Act on Hotel Services, in force for years) and sanctions for missing smoke detectors, which are mandatory from June 30, 2026 in premises providing hotel services. On top of that, standard tax risks - platforms report host income to the tax authorities.

Should I wait for the law before preparing?

Don't wait on the municipal report or the smoke detectors - those obligations already exist. It's also worth preparing your documentation (house rules, evacuation instructions, GDPR) calmly now, instead of catching up once registration opens - realistically from October 15, 2026, possibly not until 2027.

Summary

Penalties for not registering with CWTON are, for now, only a draft - today no one can fine you for lacking a number, and platforms will not touch your listings. That doesn't mean you can forget about everything: the municipal register report and smoke detectors (from June 30, 2026) are real obligations, and having your taxes and documentation in order will pay off when the system actually launches.

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--- *Legal notice: The content on this page is for information purposes only and does not constitute legal or tax advice or a binding interpretation of the law. Legal status: July 2026. EU Regulation 2024/1028 has applied since May 20, 2026, but practical registration obligations for Polish hosts depend on the adoption of the national implementing law (draft UC135 / print no. 2353), which is still in the legislative process and may change. Use of this content is at your own risk. For complex matters, consult a legal or tax advisor.*